Improvement in clothes-wringers



iL R.s.cATHCAR-r.

Io'thes-Wringers.

N0. 134,641. P`atented1an.7, 1873.

RODNEY S. CATHCART, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND THE QUEENCITY WBINGER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

Ehi-l PROVEM ENT l-N CLO.THESWRINGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. hllh, dated January 7, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that 1, Ronnnr S. GATHcAn'r, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes- NVrin gers; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompany ing drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved device complete and arranged for use 5 Fig. 2 is a like view of the frame, the rollers and compression-sprin g being detached; Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of one of the posts upon a line extending from front to rear; Fig. 4 is alike section of the same upon the line .fr x of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of said post upon line e e of Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the top cross-bar, detached; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the dripping-pan.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

My invention applies more especially to the frames of wringers constructed wholly of or from metal; and it consists, principally, in the construction of the top cross-bar, and the means employed for connecting the same to or with the posts, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified; it consists, further, in the construction of the dripping-pan and its combination with the frame-legs, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter f shown; vit consists, further, in the posts and vertically-movable journalfboxes when cast together in the form shown, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth 5 it consists, further, in the peculiar construction of the posts, substantially as'and for the purpose hereinafter shown and described 5 it ccnsists, further, in combining, with the upper or movable journal-boxes, studs or pins for limitin g the upward movement of the same, sub stantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified; it consists, finally, in the device as a whole, when its several parts are constructed and combined to operate substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In the annexed drawing, A and A represent the frame-posts, constructed of or from to the diameter of the roller-shafts, extends inward through opposite sides of ,the wall of said post, said openings corresponding in direction to the line of said bearing D. From the hollow portion of each post upward to its end the size is considerably reduced, and within said portion is formed a narrow slot, a, which corresponds in height and width to the transverse dimensions of the end c of the top cross-bar C and receives the same. As seen in Fig. 6, the end c of said bar has, vertically, the form of a dovetailed tenon, its lower edge being horizontal, while its upper edge inclines upward and outward, the upper side of the mortise a having a corresponding inclination. After insertion within itsmortise, the tenon c is raised against the upper side of the same and locked in place by means of a wedge, c', placed between the lower sides of said tenon and mortise, the peculiar construction of said parts rendering but a slight pressure necessary in order that they may be firmly united. Upon its inner face each post, A, is extended to the front and rear between the lower side of the top cross-bar and the upper end of the legs B, and upon or around the edge of such extended portion A is provided a laterallyprojecting flange, a', which, when the machine is complete, incloses the ends of the rollers and serves as a guide for the clothing being passed between the same. Upon the rear side the ange a is removed below the level of the bearing D, and from the lower edge of such iiange a groove, g, cut within the face of the post, extends downward and forward for a short distance in a curve, and thence in a straight line downward and forward, to the upper end of the front leg B. Within the grooves thus formed are placed the correspondingly-shaped ends of a sheet-metal plate,- G, and the whole firmly bound together by means of a rod, H, which passes through the posts beneath said plate G, and has upon its projecting threaded ends suitable nuts h, that bear against the outer facts of said posts, said plate thus constructed and combined being intended for both dripping-pan and lower cross-bar. The upper or movable journal-boxes I are cylindrical horizontally and somewhat less in diameter than theinterior of the pests. In order that greater strength may be secured to the posts by enabling them to be constructed of or from one piece, the boxes I are cast in position within the former, and can only become detached therefrom by the breakage ot` one ot' said parts. The rollers K are provided with central shafts L, the ends ot' which pass through the bearings D and I, and are connected and operated by means ot' gear-wheels M and a crank, N, all in the usual manner. In order that the vertical motion of the rollers may be limited, so as to prevent the teeth ot' the gear-wheels from becoming disengaged, a stud or pin, t', is provided upon the upper end of each journal-box I, and, projecting vertically upward, strikes against the upper end of the cavity within the post whenever said box has reached the upward limit ot' its motion. The required elastic pressure of the rollers is obtained by means of a semi-elliptical spring, O, the ends of which rest upon the upper sides ot' the movable boxes I, while its central portion curves upward beneath the cross-bar U. A screw, l?, passing downward through a threaded opening in said cross-bar, has its lower end bearing upon or against the lon gitudinal center of said spring, and enables the degree of pressure ot' the latter upon the journal-boxes to be adjusted at will. A clampin screw, Q, suitably swiveled within one of each pair ot' legs B, completes the device, which operates in the usual manner.

The ad rantages obtained by my improvements are, iirst, the construction ot' the top cross-bar, and the means employed for connecting` the same to or with the frame-posts, render easy the attachment or detachment ot said parts, while, as they can be east in the desired forms and united without any fitting up, the expense cf their production is materially lessened; second, the dripping-'pan may be readily constructed from either cast or wrought metal at but a tritling expense, and, when combined with the posts, not only performs well the oiiice indicated by its name,

remesa but also furnishes an eflicient brace for and by means ot which the lower portion of the frame is rendered strong and durable third, the posts and legs are strong and durable, and at the same time of comparativelylightweight, while, by the casting of the movable journalboxes within said posts, all liability to the accidental displacement .of the same is prevented and one heretofore serious difficulty avoided; vfourth, by means ofthe studs or stops secured upon and forming a part ofthe movable journal-boxes is avoided the disengagement of the teeth of the gear-wheels during the operation of the machine; iii'th, as a whole the device is simple in construction, durable, and exceedingly strong, and can be produced at a much lower cost than has heretofore been practicable.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits ot` my invention, what I claim as newT 1sl. The top cross-bar G having' the form shown, and provided with the dovetailed tenons c, in combination with the posts A provided with the mortises a and with the wedges c', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The dripping-pan G, constructed as shown, and combined with the posts A provided with the grooves g, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. The combined posts A and legs B, when constructed substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

et. In a wringer having a metal frame, a movable journal-box c: st within and not detachable from the frame-post, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. In combination with the upper or movable jurnal box l, and with the slotted fra-mepost A, the stud i secured upon and extending upward from said box, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The hereinber'ore-described device as a whole, when its several parts-are constructed and combined to operate substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of December, 1872.

I-GDNEY S. CATHCART.

lVitnesses:

- J. W. BnEwsTER,

W. I. FrrzGnuALn. 

